Cotton-press



(NoModel.)

R. F. HOB-TON.

COTTON PRESS.

No. 331.300.- Patented Dec. l, 1885.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEricE.

ROBERT FRANKLIN HORTON, OE WALNUT LANE, LOUISIANA.

COTTON-PRESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 331,300, dated December l, 1885. Application filed March 13, 1885. Serial No. 158,699. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Beit known that I, ROBERT F. H oRroN, a citizen of the United States, residing atWalnut Lane, in the parish of Union and State of Louisiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Cotton-Presses, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to an improvement in baling-presses; and it consists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices that will be more fully set forth hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, Eigurel is a side elevation of my invention,partly in section. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the same.

A represents transverse sills,which are connected by a platform, B,that forms the bottom of the pressboX. From the sills A, near the ends thereof, rise the vertical posts C, which are connected at their upper ends by the longitudinal horizontal beams D, and by the horizontal cross ortie beamsV E. Longitudinal horizontal beams F are mortised into the posts O at a suitable height above the platform.

G represents the press-box, the end walls of which are slotted centrally, as at y. That portion of the press-box between the platform and the beams F is provided with doors H.

I represents a horizontal shaft or windlass, that is journaled in the sills A. To one end of this windlass is secured a hand-wh`eel, K, and to the opposite end is secured a pulley, L. A ratchet-wheel, M, is also secured to the shaft ofthe windlass, and is engaged bya pawl, N, that is pivoted to one of the sills. The wheel K adapts the press to be operated by hand, and the pulleyL adapts the press to be operated by steam or other power.

O represents a follower that is placed in the press-box. A longitudinal beam, P, is secured to the upper side of this follower, and has projecting ends that extend through the slots g. To the ends of the beam P are suspended the sheaves R. Ropes S are secured at one end to the sills, pass over the sheaves R and pass through openings that are made in the platform, and have their lower ends secured to the windlass. Asheave, T, is hung from any suitable support above the center of the press-box, and a rope,V, is secured to the center of the beam P, passes over the sheave T, is guided by suitable sheaves, W, and has its lower end coiled around the windlass in the direction opposite to that of the ropes S. A door, Z, is made in one side of the press-box, near the upper end thereof.

The operation of my invention is as follows: Nhenthe windlass is turned in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2 the follower is raised and the cotton is thrown into the press-box through the door Z. IVhen the windlass is turned in the reverse direction, the ropes S are wound thereupon and the rope V uncoiled, which causes the follower to descend in the press-box and form the cotton therein linto a bale.

A press` thus constructed is cheap and sirnple, is easily operated, and is thoroughly reliable and efficient.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- The frame, in combination with the horizontal shaft or windlass I, provided with handwheel K and pulley L, journaled in the bottom thereof, the press-box having its lend walls provided with slots g, the follower O, the

`beam P, secured to the follower and having its ends projecting through and working in `the slots, sheaves secured to the projecting ends of the beam, ropes S, secured at one end to the frame, then passing through the sheaves,

and extending down so as to connect with thc windlass I, a sheave, T, depending from a supplemental frame above the press-box, an elevating-rope, V, secured at one end centrally to the follower, passing upward over Y the sheave T and guided by sheaves W', and attached to the windlass, and around in a reverse direction to the ropes S, and the door Z, provided in the upper portion of the pressbox, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT FRANKLIN HORTON. 

